Speed Dating: Nervous/Dubious?!

Ever been speed dating? Nervous about going on your own? Dubious about the clientele?

Well these are often the fears that many people encounter before going to the event, but they are totally unnecessary.

Generally, events consist of between 15 - 20 dates per person for each sex and last approximately 4 minutes before moving onto the next date. In almost all cases, for both male and female, it is their first time and they are often on their own. This means that the nerves that can often take hold are soon banished when the realisation that everyone is in the same boat dawns.

It is set up in such a way as to help tackle any preconceived ideas of speed dating before the actual speed dating takes place. The event is scheduled to start sharp at a given time, however this is commonly at least 30 minutes before the first date. This is for two main reasons:

Firstly, it allows the host to break the ice, make the guests feel comfortable and to compliment and reassure in order to build confidence. The host then goes through how speed dating works so that all the guests are buoyant and hit the ground running when the speed dating commences.

Secondly, in the 30 or so minutes before the dating actually starts, there is time to mingle at the bar, relax with a helping drink and discover that the rest of the participants are fairly normal people and not psychotic oddballs (but that's not say people are run of the mill!)

Based on experience, the people who go speed dating are a mixed and varied bunch, with differing interests and hobbies. Participants enjoy the art of conversation, which is sadly more difficult to do in the fairly traditionally way of meeting new people in noisy and drink fuelled pubs and clubs. Combined with the fact that most participants are busy professionals, whose time is a valuable commodity this new way of dating is becoming a popular, mainstream and fun way of meeting a large variety of new people.

This popularity is reflected by the number of UK cities hosting events, from London to Liverpool, Manchester to Nottingham and it is amazing to see how many lasting relationship are formed at these events up and down the country.

For those people who want to experience something different but fun from starting new relationships with a huge potential for more, then speed dating is a must try (especially since many organisers guarantee a match with the offer of a free ticket if no match has been made).